Richart Moffatt

Richard D. Moffatt, having had his time here, went on to better things on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. His last words were not recorded, but it's a safe bet they were probably an attempt at humor. Born 10 February 1928 at home in the small hill town of Leechburg, in western Pennsylvania, he thrived there until entering the U.S. Army just prior to the cessation of hostilities. He served overseas with the 25th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, of the 25th Infantry Division, with the Army of Occupation in Osaka, Japan. He was awarded the W.W. I I Victory Medal, the Occupation Medal and wore the Presidential Unit Citation which his unit had been awarded. He was Honorably Discharged in December of 1947 with the rank of Private First Class. He later received a commendation from the Defense Department for his service during the Cold War. Returning home he worked in a local steel mill until enrolling at Edinboro State College in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. He transferred to Kent State University in Kent, Ohio after two years. While at Kent he met his future wife, Eleanor M. Cozan. After a short courtship they were married by the college chaplain in 1952. He graduated with a BS in August of that year and stayed to work for a large arsenal upgrading artillery and mortar ammunition for the Korean Conflict. In 1954 he and his expectant wife moved to the Boston, Massachusetts area where they lived, worked and reared four sons. Richard was an operations officer for the State Street Bank until he left in 1972 after completing his Masters Degree at Northeastern University in Boston. He worked in Community Counseling with his most satisfying work being done as the Director of Training for a government program. He successfully developed work training programs at Harvard, Tufts University and other prestigious training sites. However, his most satisfying achievement was in founding an alternative school for drop outs involving erstwhile students from twelve cities and towns in the suburban Boston area. Working with the Massachusetts Department of Education and a dedicated group of volunteer employees of the program, they successfully helped their students in completing their High School requirements for a degree. Later many of these students went on to higher education. In 1979, with government funding drying up, he and Eleanor "left home", as their children described it, and departed the area in a remodeled motor home in April to trek to New Mexico visiting along the way. They arrived in Las Cruces in June just in time to set up their un-air-conditioned motor home during a record heat wave, and the unexpected fierce March New Mexico winds. After pioneering a "homestead", he and Eleanor settled down to becoming good New Mexicans. He involved himself with the local Mental Health Center and eventually specialized in working with Vietnam Veterans disabled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at a time when little was known about successful treatment. In 1990 he retired to his home on a high desert ridge northeast of the village of Dona Ana. Soon Eleanor joined him, retiring from her teaching position with the New Mexico school system. In hopes of expanding the hard work the veterans had done, he convinced them that one way of doing this was to support each other by staying in touch. A breakfast was held at J W Flours on November 11, 1986 to accomplish this. The idea caught on and has grown to include veterans of all eras, their wives, significant others and family members. The breakfasts continue to this day. The monthly newsletter sent to all attendees often refers to the group as Dick's Desperados. Richard always considered his work with the veterans not only his most memorable work, but that which he was most privileged to do. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Cozan Moffatt, and beloved dog, Sammy, sons, Richard Eric Moffatt and wife, Judith Ann of Wilmington, Mass and their children, Richard Derek Moffatt, Tracy Lee Moffatt and Joseph Kevin Moffatt; David Clair Moffatt and wife, Vicki of Georgetown, Texas; Karl Frederick Moffatt and wife, Ellen Wren Propp, of Santa Fe, NM; Kurt Paul Moffatt of Las Cruces and his children, Daniel and Kindra Moffatt. He is also survived by a sister, Karen and her husband, Bill Riggle, of Palmyra, Pa. and a brother, Len, and his wife, Lou, of Suwanee, GA. He is preceeded in death by his parents, Leonard and Mary Moffatt of Leechburg, Pa. Anyone wishing to share a celebration of his life can attend a memorial to be held Saturday, Aug. 27, 11 a.m. at La Paz-Graham Mortuary at 555. W. Amador Ave. Las Cruces, NM. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to any reputable charity for the poor and needy would be greatly appreciated. To sign the guest book log on to www.lapaz-grahams.com